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Cute Alert! Baby Hippo Loves Bathtime

Sometimes the pictures just speak for themselves and that's certainly the case with young Fiona. Earlier this week the baby hippo's keepers at the Cincinnati Zoo let little Fiona wander around the facility. It didn't take long before she found the shower. Fiona played in the water and eventually took a nap with the water running. (Published Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018)

A 2-year-old hippopotamus named Timothy at the zoo in San Antonio, Texas, has launched his courtship via social media. Posts declared her the "most beautiful hippo" he's ever seen and wonder if they can be "boyfriend and girlfriend" someday.

Dear Fiona,

My name is Timothy. I have seen you on the internet at the @CincinnatiZoo & you are the most beautiful hippo I have ever seen! Perhaps we can meet someday and be boyfriend and girlfriend? I am single and available. #HippoSwipeRight#TeamFiona

Fiona's only a year old, and her Cincinnati Zoo handlers have a lot of questions before she'll be ready to date. She became an internet sensation, drawing millions of social media views, as the zoo posted progress reports and photos after her Jan. 24, 2017, premature birth at a dangerously low 29 pounds (13 kilograms). Her visage has been on T-shirts, ornaments, cookies and even beer.

Fiona thinks you’re cute too, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts! Your DNA will decide if you’re the one for our little diva. Any potential mate would have to be ok w/ taking a back seat. Are you ok w/paparazzi? Most importantly, are you willing to relocate to Cincinnati? https://t.co/7XFCiYnyz7

And the Cincinnati Zoo asked Friday via social media if Timothy could get used to all the attention to Fiona and how he felt about "paparazzi." Timothy's post said his family has media experience, because his grandfather, Tumbo, was a cover model for National Geographic magazine.

Another key question they posed: Is he willing to relocate to Cincinnati?

Fiona the Hippo Debuts at Cincinnati Zoo

Fiona the hippo made her debut in Cincinnati on Thursday and seemed to take pure pleasure in wowing her spectators. Her audience was restricted to the media, but that didn't seem to stop her from putting on a show. The 4-month-old hippo swam, ran, and hopped her way into the hearts of those who were there to show her off to the world. The zoo staff kept in step as she got acclimated to a 9-foot pool in the hippo cove. Fiona was born six weeks premature in January and severely underweight at only 29 pounds. She's now a whopping 270-plus pounds and can hold her breath underwater for up to two full minutes. Zoo officials say she's gaining weight and strength, but she's not quite ready to make a public appearance. Caretakers are hoping she can be on exhibit sometime this summer.

(Published Thursday, June 1, 2017)

Just before Fiona's first birthday, the Cincinnati Zoo's mammals curator Christina Gorsuch said the preference will be to keep her home when she reaches breeding age at about 5 years and to bring in a male hippo.

"It will be great for her to be able to stay here her entire life," Gorsuch told The Associated Press. "We never know for certain if that will work out."